Our language, as we speak it, is very powerful, but it’s lumpy and unbalanced. Now why would that be? I think we like it that way, because it reflects who we are.
Climbing to the summit requires rope with great length and great strength. Dan King photo
If something is long, we say it has length. If it’s very long, we say it has great length. Beyond that, you can have a lot of them. For example, you might say he went to great lengths to succeed. Or, perhaps, he bought six lengths of rope for the climb to the summit. Length is in.
If something is strong, we say it has strength. If it’s very strong, we say it has great strength. Beyond that, you can have a lot of them. For example, you might say his application form lists a multitude of strengths. Strength is here to stay.
If something is wrong, we might say it has wrength, but we can’t. And if it’s very wrong, it would have great wrength, but that doesn’t work, either. We might like to say your point of view has a multitude of wrengths, but that’s not acceptable. Clearly, wrength is out. So don’t use it.
My neighbor says he thinks it should be wrongth, rather than wrength, but I think wrongth would be wronger than wrength or, perhaps I mean more wrong than wrength, or less right than wrong. I’m getting confused here, so I’m going to stop. You decide.
Orrin Frink is a Kennebunkport resident. He can be reached at ofrink@gmail.com.
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